I'm A Sucker For Extras - Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Aidan, who carried Brody on her back and moved according to her instructions, was bewildered by a large tree in front of her.

The tree trunk looked thick enough to exceed the size of a room, but no entrance seemed visible, no matter where he looked.

Brody, being carried by Aidan while he observed the tree by circling around it, seemed to understand what he was thinking. Finding his actions cute, she let out a small laugh.

“It’s up there.”

“Up?”

Aidan raised his gaze to find the top of the tree.

It seemed to extend indefinitely, and he couldn’t figure out where it ended.

‘How do I climb up here? ‘

At that moment, Brody reached out, and a vine-like rope descended.

And she was sure. Her current condition was not good because she had ‘overused her ability.’

After exerting herself just now, a chilling sensation, like being stabbed, circulated through every corner of her body.

‘This is a problem.’

While having a house elevated had its safety advantages, climbing up was challenging.

Especially when unwell, it was even more difficult than usual.

However, without giving Brody a chance to worry, Aidan quickly came up with a solution.

He held her in front, wrapping his cloak around her like a sling to secure her.

With her held in place, Brody’s body would safely rest on top of his as he climbed with his hands and feet.

‘It’s like a kangaroo pouch here.’

Brody leaned against him, remembering a recent situation where she had leaned against his chest when going down to the south, sleeping on horseback.

His sturdy body and warm heat added a sense of relief.

Even with Brody in his arms, Aidan effortlessly climbed up the tree.

“Wow. There’s a space like this above the tree.”

He exclaimed as he put Brody down.

She had twisted branches to create a broad floor and covered it with straw, making it soft.

Above, a canopy made of grass-soaked fabric was set up to provide shelter from rain, but it didn’t cover the entire floor, allowing the sky to be seen through the tree branches.

A small low table, a rattan basket with miscellaneous items, and even shelves on the wooden wall held plates and teacups neatly.

“If you’re hungry, there are fruits and bread in the basket.”

Brody pointed to one basket while taking out new clothes from another.

Aidan turned naturally and sat down as Brody tried to change clothes.

Having removed the wet clothes and put on dry ones, Brody still felt cold.

She had never thought about feeling a chill in this muggy weather.

The clothes were thin, and the blanket was also thin.

‘Troublesome….’

Brody grew a plant with fever-reducing properties.

“Ah.”

Pain surged again as she used her power.

Realizing that relying on creating it whenever needed was arrogant, she pledged to keep some medication on hand.

“Could you give me some water over there?”

Aidan found a kettle and cup, poured water, and handed it to Brody.

“It’s cold….”

Even though the water was lukewarm, it felt surprisingly cold.

Brody, who barely swallowed the medicine, trembled, found a thin blanket, and put it on.

Aidan, with Brody’s leftovers in his mouth, looked worried because it was not cold at all.

“Wouldn’t it be better to drink some hot tea?”

“But we can’t boil water here.”

Holding the kettle, Aidan went down.

Aidan was anxious that Jax might notice them when he lit the fire and saw the smoke, but fortunately, there was no sign of any disturbance.

After boiling enough water, he carefully covered their tracks and climbed back up.

Aidan handed her a warm cup.

Although Brody thanked him, he felt nothing but self-pity.

There was nothing more he could do.

‘It would be great if I could make a warm water pouch.’

The leather pouch capable of making a warm water pouch was in the saddlebags of his black horse, left in the village.

He also considered using a towel to wrap hot water, but it seemed impractical as the water would evaporate, taking away the warmth.

He decided to use a method he had been hesitating about.

Hesitant, he stood up.

Then he took off his upper and lower garments.

Brody looked at him with surprise.

However, looking at his face, he seemed more embarrassed than Brody.

There was no need to take off the lower garment, but he did.

Earlier, when he got into the water, there was no opportunity for the clothes to dry.

He was still wearing underwear, so he wasn’t completely naked; ‘it seemed inappropriate to take off everything’.

“Brody, come here.”

After settling in his spot, he gestured to the empty space in front of him.

She understood his kindness, but even the audacious Brody hesitated.

When she was debating whether to refuse or not, his expression, looking incredibly awkward, appeared in her eyes.

If she hesitated any longer, he might burst into tears or turn red to the point of exploding, she thought, and Brody shifted her position.

Approaching him gingerly as she sat in front of him, Aidan wrapped both of them in a thin blanket.

After a while, the air inside the blanket became warm.

Brody felt a bit more alive now and leaned against Aidan.

He was surprised by her proactive gesture, but Brody, feeling embarrassed by the situation, already had something in mind.

Even more surprisingly, Aidan felt that Brody, who was making such advances, was endearing.

Taking courage, he embraced Brody and held her hands, diligently rubbing them.

The warmth returned to her cold fingertips.

However, as his body temperature, the tropical climate, and Brody’s warm body combined, Aidan quickly started to feel hot.

Brody, sensing Aidan’s body becoming wet with sweat, asked apologetically, “Is it hot?”

“No.”

“….”

Despite sweating like this, he said it wasn’t hot.

‘Why are you so kind? It’s making my heart weak.’

Brody closed his eyes, writhing at the tender comfort.

***

After a while, when she opened her eyes, it was already dark.

Sensing Brody waking up, Aidan lowered his gaze from the stars between the trees.

“Are you awake?”

Feeling much lighter, Brody stretched.

He adjusted his position to avoid interfering with her stretching.

Smiling at his consideration, Brody found it amusing.

She felt regretful that he didn’t get up. Brody changed her posture and leaned back against Aidan again.

“There’s no separate human heating patch here.”

It was the first time Duke had been treated as a heating patch, but he felt a sense of accomplishment.

“I’m grateful to be useful.”

In response to his words, Brody turned her head to look up at Aidan.

His side profile seemed slightly tilted in her view.

Sudden eye contact made Aidan flustered.

“Tell me, Your Grace.”

“What… what are you talking about?”

“You’re lying when you say this is your first time, right?”

“…?!”

At her words, Aidan’s face turned bright red.

“I’m not lying.”

“Hmm, but why are you so good with this?”

Well, it wasn’t really true. Just by looking at his reaction, Brody could sense how inexperienced he was.

‘The women wouldn’t leave a man like this alone.’

However, Brody consciously swallowed those words.

It felt like jealousy would erupt if she spoke them aloud.

She turned her head again and leaned against him.

‘I’ll have to admit it, I have feelings for him.’

But Brody liking him and following him were entirely different matters.

At least for her.

He looked up at the sky again and said, “You’ve been here, and it seems like you had a good time.”

It was a clumsy attempt to change the subject, but Brody, usually quick-witted, was locked in her own thoughts and let it pass.

Brody replied, feeling the vibration in her body, “Yes, I enjoyed it.”

Aidan listened, feeling the pleasant tingling of her hair whenever she moved.

“I eat well and roll around. I think I did everything I could that I wanted to do.”

He felt a pang of pain seeing Brody looking good.

Unconsciously, he reached out and brushed her cheek below.

She felt his touch and said, feeling the heat rising to her cheeks, feeling awkward, and thinking she had to say something.

“My skin has completely improved. I found good skincare. It used to be too rough before.”

“No, it was soft enough before.”

It was just an attempt to cover up embarrassment, but eventually, Brody’s cheeks turned red.

Worried that it might reach his ears, she couldn’t hide anywhere.

‘The atmosphere is a bit… dangerous.’

Aidan, looking at her neck through her hair, asked without realizing, “Are you okay now, Brody?”

“Yes, I’m fine. It’s better now.”

But in the next moment, Brody strongly felt that her answer might be wrong.

He bowed his head, and Aidan kissed her neck.

Already blushing, Brody trembled at his touch.

He expected her to take it calmly, but Aidan was surprised when she showed an unexpected reaction.

A pleasant turn of events, if she has to say.

“My Lord…?”

“Look this way, Brody.”

Brody was flustered. It was already embarrassing and awkward, but she had to turn her head.

To face him with such a disheveled expression?

It seemed like it would reveal her feelings.

Brody hesitated, and Aidan turned his body.

Then, reaching out with his right hand, he gently turned her cheek and neck.

Even though it was dark and the blush couldn’t be seen, he felt the warmth of her cheek in his hand.

And as expected, she couldn’t look into his eyes.

In fear, Aidan pressed his lips against Brody’s.

Nose, cheek, and lips.

Fortunately, Brody accepted his kiss.

It felt like her heart was about to burst.

Aidan turned his head a few times to kiss her again.

He felt the sweetness of her lips, which had not yet cooled.

Finally breaking away, he looked at Brody with ragged breath.

After a brief pause, he said, “Brody, come with me.”

Brody’s eyebrows, which had been lowered, lifted.

Her trembling pupils met his gaze.

Her budding lips eventually opened.

She answered, “Your Grace, I can’t.”